Time switch and control system



Dec. 26,- 1939. "r. A. SOLBERG 2,134,724

- TIME SWITCH AND CONTROL SYSTEM Original Filed Kay 15, 1936 2Sheets-Sheet l TEE-l IN V EN TOR.

G ATTORNEY Dec. 26, 1939. i T. A. SOLBERG I 2,134,724

TIME SWITCH AND CONTROL SYSTEM Original Filed May 15, 1936 2Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

dfzo wnfd 9L. $023445,

BY 6 W ATTORNEY Patented Dec. 26, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE TIMESWITCH AND CONTROL SYSTEM Thorvald A. Solberg, Washington, D. G.

Original application May 15, 1936, Serial No. 80,013. Divided and. thisapplication January 20, 1938, Serial No. 185,987

7 Claims.

application;v Serial Number 80,013, filed May 15,

1936, now Patent No. 2,138,890., for. System and apparatus forannouncing time- One of the objects of my invention is to provide, in aclock having associated therewith a a compact arrangement of soundreproducing system, means for automatically conditioning the soundreproducing system immediately prior to the time interval during whichan announcement is desired and effecting an announcement at a given timeinterval and thereafter cutting off the sound reproducing systempreparatory to a repeat process for a succeeding announcement.

Another object of my invention is to provide, in a compact assembly ofsound reproducing system and clock mechanism, means whereby the soundreproducing system is-conditioned prior to a predetermined time intervalfor effecting an announcement over a given time interval and thereafterdeenergized preparatory to repeat .processes at various time intervalsfor successive announcements.

A further object of my invention is to provide positive switching meansactuated by a constantly rotated shaft, with coacting fixed contactsadapted for control of electrical circuits in predetermined timedsequence.

Still another object of my invention is to provide switching meanshaving dual contacts adapted to be bridged by a movable contact andauxiliary switching means actuated in sequential relation to theaforesaid switching means for controlling a plurality of electricalcircuits in timed relation.

A still further object of my invention is to provide a construction oflow voltage relay control switch means in combination with directcircuit control switch means for sequential operation of power andsignalling circuits, respectively.

Other and further objects of my invention reside in the structure andarrangement of switch elements as disclosed and described more fully inthe specification hereinafter following, with reference to theaccompanying drawings in which:

Figure l is a vertical sectional view, with parts in elevation, of timeannouncing mechanism embodying the control means of my invention; Fig.la is a detail sectional view taken on line la-la in Fig. 1 showing therelation of fixed and movable contacts in one form of my invention; Fig.2

is a plan view, with parts broken away, of the mechanism shown in Fig.1; Fig. 3 is a schematic diagram of the electrical circuit arrangementemployed in the reproducing system associated with the announcingmechanism shown in Figs. 1 and 2; Fig. 4 is a schematic diagram of thecon. nections for the switch contacts illustrated in Fig. la; Figs. 5and 6 are elevational and plan views, respectively, of a modiflediorm ofswitch structure embodying the principles of my inveni tion; and Fig. lis a schematic diagram of the modified circuit arrangement employing theswitch structure shown in Figs. 5 and 6.

The ordinary clock announces time, at various intervals such as thehour, half hour and quarter hour by means of gongs, striking chimes,bells or other sound producing implements. The present inventionpertains to control means for the reproductionof a sound which gives theexact time shown'by the hands of the clock. Appropriate arrangements maybe made for discontinuing the time announcements for any desired lengthof time.

Alarm features may be incorporated by adding additional elements whichcontrol only alarm bell signals or, if desired, voice recordings to takethe place of the bell.

Referring to the drawings in detail, I have indicated an electric clockby means of a rectangle 6 3. The. electric clockv is operated by asynchro-- 30,

which is carried by shaft t which extends. parv allel to main shaft 1.The shaft 4 is journaled in suitable bearings 5 and 6 attached to thehousing and supporting structure adjacent the clock. The shaft 4 carriesa metallic cylinder l on the sur-- face of which there is inscribed adouble groove or track as shown in Fig. l. A small segmental block 8carries a shoe device 8a which is adapted tofit into-and engage thegroove la in the cylinder 1. It will be seen that as cylinder '5revolves, the block 8 is moved in a horizontal path parallel with thelongitudinal axis of the cylinder 1. The groove or track la is so shapedthat the direction of motion of block 8 is reversed at each end ofcylinder l. The track or groove la is continuous and changes from a leftto a right- 5 hand pitch at one end of the cylinder t and vice versa atthe other end of the cylinder 'i. Accordingly, the motion imparted toblock iii-s automatic in that a continuous reciprocatory course oftravel is imparted to block 8 as cylinder 1 revolves. I have illustrateda simplified form of my invention to facilitate explanation. The block 8is mounted on an arm of the substantially U-shaped frame 9 extendinghorizontally as shown in Fig. 2. The substantially LI--shaped frame 9 isguided in a horizontal path on a rack or rail iii by means of rollers90. and 31) and also by such guides as will prevent dislocation orderangement of parts. The U-shaped member is constrained to move only inthe horizontal path permitted by the guides. The rack or rail H3 ismounted parallel to the axis of the cylinder I. This rack or rail I isangle shaped and extends within the housing adjacent the clock structureand provides a guide which is engaged by the sets of rollers 9a and 9brotatably mounted on frame 9 and adapted to roll on the sides of therack or rail It. The arm or frame 8 serves the double purpose of keepingthe block 8 engaged in groove la and also serves as a carrier for anoptical system and photosensitive cell as will more clearly understoodhereinafter. The frame 9 carries on the portion thereof immediatelyadjacent cylinder 1 a light source H. The light source H is locatedadjacent the end of the inner arm of frame 9. Suitable flexibleconnections extend to light source II for conveying energy required forilluminating source ll,

Reverting at this time to the main shaft I, it will be observed that inaddition to the small gear 2 heretofore explained for driving cylinderI, I provide the gear l2 which is meshed with gear l3 to which isconnected the cylinder M. The gear and cylinder assembly is journaled inring bearings l5 and I6 suitably supported with respect to the housingof the clock structure. Cylinder I4 is concentrically disposed aboutcylinder I and has the interior wall thereof spaced from the exteriorwall of cylinder 1. By reason of the mounting of cylinder 14 in ringbearings 15 and 16, the cylinder I l revolves about the same axis ascylinder 1. The ring bearing I6 is supported in such manner as not tointerfere with the horizontal path of movement of the substantiallyU-shaped arm or frame 9.

Cylinder I4 is arranged to receive a film record on the outer or innercylindrical surface thereof. The structure of cylinder I4 is such thatit is transparent so that light rays will pass directly through thecylinder l4 and the sound record carried thereby. The sound track may bedirectly recorded upon a photographic sensitive film carried by cylinderM. The cylinder may be of glass or other transparent material on whichis engraved, photographed or otherwise reproduced a sound track.

Returning now to the arm or frame 9, it will be understood that becauseof the transparency of the cylinder [4 that the light source II willdirect light rays outwardly through the cylindrical surface l4 and anysound record carried thereby. The parallel extending portion of arm orframe 9 which is external to cylinder [4 carries a photoelectric celland optical system assembly. I have shown a mirror at I! disposed inhorizontal alignment with light source ll along a line extendinglaterally through the wall of the cylinder M. A lens system H! iscarried by the outer arm of frame 9 and serves to concentrate light raysupon the photoelectric cell I9. It will be seen that the entire opticaland photoelectric cell assembly is carried by that portion of frame 9exterior to cylinder l4 while the light source ll is carried by thatportion of frame 9 interiorly of cylinder l4.

The photoelectric cell I9 is connected through flexible leads to theinput terminals of an amplification system which I have showndiagrammatically in Fig. 3. The amplification system is designed foroperation of the electron tubes constituting the amplifier from the samealternating current source as is employed to drive the synchronous clockmotor. I have illustrated in Fig. 3 a power supply circuit for theamplifier system consisting of transformer 28 having primary winding 2|on one leg of the core thereof and a multiplicity of secondary windingsindicated at 22, 23 and 24. Secondary winding 22 is employed to supplyheating current to the filamentary heaters in electron tubes 25 and 26constituting the amplifier system. It will be observed that electrontubes 25 and 26 are of the standard types available on the marketincluding the heater electrodes 25a and 26a, the cathodes 25b and 2%,the control grids 25c and 260 and the anodes 25d and 26d.

The input circuit of electron tube 25 includes impedance 2! andphotoelectric cell l9 connected in circuit between control grid 25c andcathode 25b through resistor 28. The output circuit of tube 25 iscoupled through primary winding 29 with secondary winding 30 oftransformer 3|. Secondary winding 30 is connected in the input circuitof tube 26, that is, to grid 26c and cathode 26b. The output circuit ofelectron tube 26 connects through output transformer 32 with theloudspeaker shown generally at 33.

The plate circuit energy for the electron tubes 25 and 26 is suppliedfrom the full wave rectifier tube 34 having the plate electrodes thereofenergized from winding 23 and having the cathode thereof energized fromsecondary winding 24. A filter circuit 35 connects to the full waverectifier tube 34 and plate circuit potential for the several tubes ofthe amplifier is supplied from suitable connections made to requiredpoints along potentiometer 36. The filter circuit 35 includes a filterreactor 31, and, connected in shunt to the fi ter reactor 37, I providea potentiometer 38. A tap 39 on potentiometer 38 is taken through leadii] to one terminal of resistor 28 which applies the potential thusobtained from the drop across the filter reactor 31 to the seriescircuit including photoelectric cell l9 and the input system to electrontube 25.

Various circuit arrangements may be employed in carrying out the systemof my invention and the circuit I have shown is to be considered morelyin the illustrative sense. It will be understood that Fig. 3 is entirelya diagrammatic showing of my invention as the amplifier is notcontinuously functioning but is only conditioned preparatory to thereproduction of sound at a predetermined time interval. The manner ofconditioning the amplifier for reproduction of sound at a predeterminedtime interval will be more clearly understood by reference to thestructure of the switching mechanism illustrated in the other figures ofthe drawings.

Referring to Fig. 4, the light source H is illustrated as energized fromthe alternating current supply circuit after a predetermined timeinterval has elapsed, during which the amplifier is conditioned for thereproduction of sound before the light source is energized for theannouncement at any predetermined time.

The conditioning switch is operated by means of gear 4| carried by mainshaft I, Fig. 1, which drives gear 42 carried by shaft 43 journaled at Mand 45 with respect to the housing of the clock; mechanism. :Theiigear1.42;? carries anzri the announcement through" the'sound reproducerinterval sui'licient to allow rectifier tube' Mtand amplifier tubes 25and 26 to becomeproperly' con ditioned so that the sound reproducer isprepared for operation at the instant'sound' traceon cylin 's der' Mreaches'a positionior operating photo Atthis instant; contactmemberelectric cell i 9. 4l-- also": establishes con-nection': with tcontact. I 58f thereby;energizingcslight l .l' and..- allowing the lightrays therefrom to: be modulated proper operaticn'of the-:soundreproducer in 1 ad- Vance of: the icutting:oncofi themliglit source i l;

Th'ereiaresinstancesrwhere it is desirable to s avoid '1.theirassociation f 110 :volts' alternating current with :the.switchzsamechanism driven by shaft; 43cm which? .event.;'. I may addadditional COIltflCliS'TtO -thet--rotary gear dz; Thiswmay beaccompiished; by adding ,an insulated disc 5i ontheoppositezsideaofxgear'42; as. shown in Figs; 5 and: 6. and; diagrammatically illustrated inFigifl. Insulated-disc.5&5 shown" diagram.-

matically in Fig. '7 'carries'a radiallydisposed contact member 52corresponding generally. to contactmem'ber 51. Contact member 52 ismoved into the path of fixed contacts 53 and 54 atzthe'instantthesannouncementtis desired and subsequent to the energization ofthe circuits of the amplifier. Contacts 53 and 54 are supported on asuitable bracket indicated at 55 supported from bearing bracket 45.Contacts 53 and 54 are connected through leads 56 with the circuit tothe light source ll leading from the additional secondary winding 5'! onthe transformer 20. Light source It is, therefore, cut on subsequent tothe energization of the amplifier system. In order to remove the higherpower circuits from the switching mechanism, I may employ thearrangement illustrated in Fig. '7 wherein contacts 48 and 49 connectthrough leads 58 with the actuating winding 59 of relay 6!) throughsmall dry battery 6!. The contacts (52 of relay 66 serve to close acircuit through primary winding 2! for preconditioning the amplifiersystem and before the cutting on of the light source it.

After the amplifier is conditioned preparatory to the announcement at agiven time, the amplifier remains conditioned during the period of theannouncement and at the instant of closing of the announcement, both theamplifier and the light source are cut off and restored to a conditionpreparatory to a repeat process for the next succeeding announcement.

The structure of the clock and the associated announcing mechanism of myinvention is highly compact and simple in its manufacture andproduction. I realize that modifications of the structural arrangementand circuit of the clock of my invention may be made and I intend nolimitations upon my invention other than may be imposed by the scope ofthe appended claims.

It will also be understood that one such clock as has been described canbe used as a master ber oi'i'remotelocations:can'z'beqmade by usingloudspeakers in: these locations: Inthis way I notwonly timeannouncements :but also-instructionscr orders whichit iswidesireditogive at clock an'd thattime announcements inany numspecified times :toworkers :in dilferent "locations can be rc'ontrolled and r'sent outiiat"these :specified times by one'centrally located-master clock. 33, thealternating current supply circuit is closed through primary winding'21: fOI."'3. givenv time":

Many other changes-bin; the'rarrangement of parts of the systemimay'bemade and I claim' all adaptations. of my'iinvention within the scope ofth'eappended claims.

What'I claim as new and-"desire to-secure by Let-tersPatent of theUnited" States is as follows:

1. In a system for announcing time, a sequence switch device forcontrolling the operation thereof comprising inzcom'bination with aclock, a disc rotated. in a. fraction of an hour by said.

clock and having. a contact =element carried.

thereby a pair. of coextensive arcuate shaped fixed arsontacts.mountedradjacentisaid. disc and adaptedli xto s. bridged" bysaidrcontact element "t ottherotation of during a predetermined"; said.

- flfiedraldfiiilliii'lai.GOlltfiCl? element discent said iarcuateshaped contacts and adapteditobevengaged simultaneously with saidarcu'atelsha'ped "contactsisby thefirstsaid con"- taet element: at apredetermined time subsequent to 'thd'bridgingz'oi" .saidarcuate.contacts in fractional'hour periods, an electrical circuit connectedwithsaid coextensive: contacts, and a separate electricalacircuit"connected-"with said additionalcontact element: andioneof saidcoextensive: contacts;

2. In a system for announcing time, sequence control switching meanscomprising in combinationwith a clock, a disc: rotated in a fractionof.-ian1'hour .by saidnclock' andt.having.a pair of synchronized contactmembers carried thereby on opposite sides thereof, a pair of coextensivearcuate shaped fixed contacts mounted adjacent one side of said disc andadapted to be bridged by one of said synchronized contact members for apredetermined phase of the rotation of said disc, a pair of fixedadditional'contact members mounted adjacent the opposite side of saiddisc and adapted to be bridged by the other of said synchronized contactmembers subsequent to the beginning of and within the said phase ofrotation of said disc in fractional hour periods, and separateelectrical circuits connected with said pairs of fixed contacts.

3.111. a time-controlled signalling system, a clock mechanism,electrical signalling means having power supply and signalling circuitstherefor, and switch means for controlling the operation of saidcircuits in sequential relation, said switch means comprising a switcharm rotated in a fraction of an hour by said clock mechanism, dualcontact members carried on opposite sides of said switch arm insulatedfrom each other, fixed contact means connected with said signallingcircuit mounted adjacent one side having power supply and signallingcircuits therefor, a trio of switch contacts including a pair ofextended arcuate shaped coextensive contacts connected in said powersupply circuit and a substantially shorter arcuate shaped contactdisposed adjacent one end of the aforesaid pair of contacts andcoextensive with a portion thereof, connections from the last saidcontact and one of the aforesaid contacts to said signalling circuit, aswitch arm rotated in a fraction of an hour by said clock mechanism andadapted to bridge said trio of contacts, said switch arm being engagedwith said pair of contacts along the extended portion thereof beyondsaid shorter contact for a predetermined time prior to engagementthereof with said shorter contact, whereby said power supply circuit isconditioned prior to the operation of said signalling circuit infractional hour periods.

5. In a time-controlled signalling system, a clock mechanism, electricalsignalling means having power supply and signalling circuits therefor,dual pairs of fixed contacts, the contacts in one pair being connectedin said signalling circuit, relay switch means having contacts connectedin said power supply circuit, the contacts of the other of said pairs offixed contacts being connected in circuit with said relay switch means,and a contact arm actuated by said clock mechanism and having separatecontact members adapted to engage said pairs of fixed contacts, saidpairs of contacts being so disposed relative to each other and to saidcontact members as to be engageable by the respective contact members inpredetermined timed sequence.

6. In a time-controlled signalling system, sequence control switchingmeans comprising, in

combination with a revolvable clock shaft, a switch arm carrying acontact member rotated in a fraction of an hour by said shaft, fixedcontacts engageable by said contact member including a pair ofcoextensive arcuate shaped contacts arranged in parallel concentricspaced relation and in a single stud-like contact disposed between saidpair of contacts adjacent one end thereof and insulated from each ofsaid contacts, said contact member being adapted to embrace said pair ofcontacts and all of said contacts in predetermined timed sequence infractional hour periods, an electrical circuit connected with saidcoextensive contacts, and a separate electrical circuit connected withsaid studlike contact and one of said arcuate contacts.

7. In a time-controlled signalling system, sequence control switchingmeans comprising, in combination with a revolvable clock shaft, a switcharm rotated in a fraction of an hour by said shaft, dual contact memberscarried on opposite sides of said switch arm insulated from each other,coacting contacts for each of said contact members mounted respectivelyadjacent opposite sides of said switch arm and comprising pairs ofarcuate shaped contacts adapted to be bridged by the respective contactmembers, the contacts associated with one of said contact members beingrelatively extended through a substantial portion of the circumferentialare described by said contact member and embracing the correspondingportion of the circumferential path of the other of said membersoccupied by the relatively foreshortened contacts associated therewith,and separate electrical circuits connected with said pairs of arcuateshaped contacts.

THORVALD A. SOLBERG.

